Self-Efficacy as the Key Mechanism in Student Help-Seeking: A Commentary on Patricio et al (2025)

Abstract

This commentary highlights the significance of Patricio et al.'s (2025) findings on the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between shyness and help-seeking among Filipino college students. The study challenges assumptions that shyness directly hinders help-seeking and emphasizes the cultural influence of hiya. Notably, self-efficacy mediates help-seeking for suicidal ideation, underscoring its importance in high-risk situations and its relevance for suicide-prevention initiatives in higher education. We further discuss the roles of stigma, social support, and cultural expectations, as well as the need for gender-sensitive research. The commentary advocates culturally grounded interventions to strengthen student mental-health help-seeking.

Dear Editor,

After carefully reading the article “Examining the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Shyness and Help-Seeking Behavior among College Students” by Patricio and colleagues (2025), ¹ we would like to express our appreciation and offer an extended commentary on the significance of the study's findings. This research provides timely and valuable insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying help-seeking behavior among Filipino college students a population increasingly confronting mental health challenges.

We consider the study's focus on the interplay between shyness, self-efficacy, and help-seeking behavior an important contribution to the mental health literature. While many theoretical frameworks acknowledge that help-seeking is shaped by complex psychological, cognitive, and social processes, few studies have directly examined how shyness interacts with self-efficacy to shape help-seeking intentions.^2–4 In this sense, the work of Patricio et al ¹ offers a nuanced understanding of intrapersonal and cognitive factors influencing students’ readiness to seek assistance, particularly within a collectivistic cultural context.

One of the most striking findings, in our view, is the absence of a direct effect of shyness on help-seeking behavior both for personal/emotional problems and suicidal ideation. This challenges the widespread assumption that shy individuals are inherently ⁵ reluctant to interact with mental health professionals. We interpret this result as evidence that shyness as a temperamental trait cannot be equated with hiya, a culturally embedded construct associated with social inhibition, fear of judgment, and concern for family reputation. ⁶ As the authors suggest, help-seeking reluctance in Filipino contexts may be more strongly informed by cultural norms and social expectations than by individual personality traits alone.

Equally compelling is the finding that self-efficacy significantly mediates the relationship between shyness and help-seeking behavior specifically for suicidal ideation. This indicates that in situations of acute psychological distress, students’ belief in their ability to take action becomes a decisive factor. ⁷ Put differently, even students who are shy may still seek help if they possess strong self-efficacy, whereas those with lower self-efficacy may be hindered in accessing support despite experiencing suicidal thoughts. From our perspective, this highlights self-efficacy as a critical target for suicide-prevention initiatives in higher education institutions.

The interplay of perceived stigma, social support, and cultural expectations creates a complex landscape for help-seeking behaviors related to personal or emotional problems. Personal stigma is a significant barrier, while social support can facilitate help-seeking. Cultural norms and expectations further complicate these behaviors, often exacerbating stigma and reducing the likelihood of seeking help. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions and culturally sensitive approaches is essential to improve mental health outcomes.^8,9 We view this layered pattern as consistent with existing literature showing that help-seeking is not a uniform behavior. Students may downplay everyday emotional struggles due to concerns about overreacting or burdening others, but rely more heavily on self-efficacy when faced with high-risk mental health situations.

We also took note of the moderated mediation analysis showing that sex did not significantly alter the mediation pathways, although conditional effects indicated stronger mediation among female respondents. While the authors rightly advise caution due to the gender imbalance in the sample, we believe this finding points to the need for more gender-sensitive research. In many Asian societies, gender norms shape emotional expression, coping styles, and attitudes toward help-seeking. ¹⁰ Understanding these nuances may inform more tailored interventions.

Overall, we find the study highly relevant for informing institutional policies and mental health programs on university campuses. The authors’ findings reinforce the importance of designing interventions that explicitly enhance students’ self-efficacy through skills training, simulation of help-seeking behaviors, improved mental health literacy, and opportunities for supportive peer engagement. Furthermore, we encourage future studies to adopt longitudinal designs and incorporate qualitative approaches to deepen understanding of culturally rooted factors such as hiya, which quantitative measures may not fully capture.

We commend the authors for producing a rigorous and culturally grounded study whose implications extend beyond the Filipino context. We hope that this commentary contributes to ongoing scholarly dialogue on the determinants of help-seeking behavior among young adults navigating increasingly complex psychological and social environments.